Juncker confident about Mersch appointment

Luxembourg's leader has predicted that Yves Mersch will join the European Central Bank's board by mid-November, despite objections to the move because of gender issues.

30.10.2012

Luxembourg's leader has predicted that Yves Mersch will join the European Central Bank's board by mid-November, despite objections to the move because of gender issues.

According to Bloomberg, Jean-Claude Juncker, who is the eurozone finance chief and helped the Luxembourg Central Bank head receive the nomination, expected the appointment to be official within the next two weeks.

Mersch's appointment to the ECB executive board was scuppered last week when the European Parliament voted against the move in protest over a lack of women on the board. Altogether 325 voted against, 300 in favour with 49 abstentions.

The vote is, however, non-binding and the final decision rests with the leaders of the 17 eurozone governments, which unanimously backed Mersch's appointment last July.

Mersch, 63, is the eurozone's longest serving central bank chief and has a reputation for strong financial governance.